I'm a big fan of cutaway things, specially if they are real like this lock. It's fascinating to see how machines and mechanisms work, with the little pins and springs moving to fit the shape of the key, leaving the barrel free to move when everything clicks. »11/21/14 8:02pm 11/21/14 8:02pm

While some people are trying to reinvent the lock by eliminating keys altogether, others solutions, like the XPUZMAG from Taiwan, are going in decidedly different direction—by taking a traditional lock-and-key mechanism and just making it a thousand times more complicated. Warning to the belligerent drunk about town:… »11/11/14 10:19am 11/11/14 10:19am

Are you prone to losing your keys more often than you'd like to admit? You just need to settle on a specific place to put them every time you get home. And to make this routine enjoyable enough so that it becomes a habit, trying to hit this magnetic bullseye when you get home every night sounds entertaining enough. »6/13/14 2:40pm 6/13/14 2:40pm

It doesn't matter how ultra-thin your wallet is, your pant pockets will still be overflowing if you're cramming a huge set of keys in there. But even if you move everything onto a single ring, there's still no way your current set of keys will get as compact as the TIK keychain. »6/05/14 12:40pm 6/05/14 12:40pm

Here's a fun little musical experiment from The Gregory Brothers. They flipped major and minor keys in popular songs to transform previously happy songs into sad ones and turn old depressing sad songs into happy ones. It sends your brain in a tizzy when you hear the words of songs you recognize but see them in a whole… »3/26/14 11:02pm 3/26/14 11:02pm

If you take a picture of a car or house key, could you use that picture to get a copy made? Yes—quite trivially, actually. I have a folder on my laptop that is filled with photos people have taken of their keys and put onto the internet. Every few weeks, I take some idle time and associate one of those keys to an… »2/13/14 4:20pm 2/13/14 4:20pm

In addition to opening doors, that set of keys in your pocket also serves as makeshift knives, prybars, and even ice scrapers. But why risk accidentally bending a key and losing access to your home when this key-sized multi-tool can do so much more? »11/28/13 5:00pm 11/28/13 5:00pm

The makers of the ChargeCard—that wallet-friendly credit card-sized sync cable for smartphones—are back with a new product called the ChargeKey that's instead designed to hang out on your keychain. It's almost like a stripped down version of the ChargeCard that sheds most of the plastic so it can easily sidle up next… »9/12/13 8:50am 9/12/13 8:50am

We all know the world's going to end at some point, and sure, maybe it's not entirely "likely" to happen anytime soon—but better safe than sorry. So assuming you've already been working diligently on your underground, radiation-proof bunker, what's going to happen when you need extra keys made with nary a (non-zombie)… »8/26/13 2:40pm 8/26/13 2:40pm

Long before prison guards started carrying tasers, tear gas, and other non-lethal deterrents, they apparently relied on these cell door keys that also functioned as tiny one-shot pistols. They probably weren't lethal, but there's no doubt they packed enough of a punch to make an inmate very uncomfortable if they… »8/22/13 5:22pm 8/22/13 5:22pm

A self-defense course will teach you how to use your keys as a weapon, but in practice, when you're under attack and panicking, protecting yourself with a keyring isn't as easy as it sounds. So the Hit, from Unikia, combines a loud audible panic alarm with a pop-up holder that turns a key into a switchblade that's… »7/18/13 3:20pm 7/18/13 3:20pm

Key-shaped USB flash drives have guaranteed we never forget to bring our important files ever again. And taking the same approach, Bluelounge's Kii guarantees you always have an emergency iPhone or iPad charger on hand—as long as you remembered to lock your home and bring your keys. »7/09/13 8:55am 7/09/13 8:55am

Whether you've got to deal with a crotchety landlord or a dopey locksmith, we can all agree that replacing lost or stolen keys can be a drag. KeyMe, a new service launched this week in New York, seems to have found a solution by storing your keys in the cloud and making them accessible via a kiosk 24/7. »6/26/13 2:20pm 6/26/13 2:20pm

Keys have been around for hundreds, if not, thousands of years. We've all used them. We generally understand how they work and how vulnerable they can be. Some are better than others. And now that the simplest of devices in the home are connecting to the cloud, it's time to figure out just how safe or smart these… »6/05/13 2:17pm 6/05/13 2:17pm

Smart Locks are now a thing. Believe it or not. UniKey arguably kicked off the whole craze last year when they appeared on ABC's Shark Tank, then Lockitron got some buzz with its latest iteration (though it did first pop up in early 2011) and just last week August launched its smart lock. This week its a… »6/04/13 7:00am 6/04/13 7:00am

In an ever increasing world of connected smart things, the most important home appliance, the front door lock, is just now getting automated. August, co-founded by Yves Behar and Jason Johnson, today announced the company's first product, a $200 lock aptly named Smart Lock. Now you never have to pull out your key or… »5/29/13 8:15pm 5/29/13 8:15pm

If your daily commute has become mundane and boring, you can easily spice things up with this clever hack that makes it feel like you've just jacked someone's ride. All you need is an old screwdriver—the more worn it is the more convincing the effect will be—and a car key you're willing to hack to bits. »4/30/13 10:58am 4/30/13 10:58am

If you don't mind having your pockets filled with novelty knick-knacks when you head out the door, you can adorably dress up your keys with these plastic covers that make them look like tiny chainsaws. »4/02/13 4:40pm 4/02/13 4:40pm